James Francis Cooke (1875-?)
Born in Bay City, prominent muscian in Philadephia, Penn.

Business bio. -- Added Sep., 2009.

Grove's Dictionary of Music and Musicians, 1920.

JAMES FRANCIS COOKE_______

Cooke, James Francis (Nov. 14, 1875, Bay City, Mich.), was educated in the New York schools and with private teachers. He studied music there with W. H. Hall, Woodman, Eberhard and Medorn, and with Meyey-Olbersleben and Hermann Ritter at the Royal Conservatory in Wurzburg. Beginning at thirteen, he continued teaching piano in New York for over twenty years, developing original ideas based upon psychological experiments, some of which have had wide acceptance. He was also for some years organist in Brooklyn churches, conductor of choral clubs and vocal teacher. With his wife, nee Betsey Ella Beckwith, as signer, he has given many recitals and lectures on musical history and interpretation. He has written extensively for musical periodicals – for three years was correspondent for the 'Neue Zeitschrift fur Musik' and the 'Musikalishes Wochenblatt,' and in 1901-05 published notes of extensive investigations of the conservatory-systems of Europe. Since 1907 he had been editor of 'The Etude' in Philadelphia. The results of conferences with great living pianists he collected under the title Great Pianists upon Piano-Playing, 1913. He has also published The Standard History of Music, 1910, Mastering the Scales and Arpeggios, 1913, Musical Playlets, 1917, and Music-Masters Old and New. Some of his piano-pieces and songs have had large circulation. He has also composed works of more serious character as yet unpublished. He was president of the Philadelphia Music Teachers' Association in 1911-18, of the Writeabout Club in 1915-16, of the Philadelphia Drama League since 1917. He was made Mus.D by the Ohio Northern University in 1919. He has written plays (four produced professionally), stories, a novel, etc. During the war as a 'Four-Minute Man' he addressed over 300,000 people.

Editor of The Etude. - Added Oct., 2010.

The Etude
A Monthly Journal for the Musician, the
Music Student, and All Music Lovers.
Edited by James Francis Cooke
Vol. XXXIX No. 7 - July, 1921

Page 280.

Master Study in Music
By James Francis Cooke

This collection of biographical studies of the world's great masters and interesting musical personalities, who have had a determinative effect upon the history of the art, is now in preparation. It will contain a vast amount of material that has never been in print in any one collection in the English language. It should prove of great practical use to all club leaders, schools, conservatories, private teachers and students who know that any intimacy with the lives and ideals of the masters is one of the greatest incentives to progress in music study. One important characteristic of hte book is the attention given to such masters as Debussy, Strauss, MacDowell, Mrs. Beach, Gottschalk, Paderewski, Saint-Saens and others who are hardly mentioned in the older works confined principally to the masters of other days. The special introductory price for this work is 50 cents.

Page 545.

Great Singers on the Art of Singing
By J. F. Cooke.

Printing conditions may delay this work slightly, but fortunately it is now all up in type and is awaiting the final touches. The book has a direct appeal to everyone interested in the art of singing. Many of the great vocalists of the world have possessed invaluable secrets which they have been glad to see reach type in some permanent form. Most of them, however, have been unable or hesitated to define their ideas to others, but Mr. James Francis Cooke has succeeded in getting these ideas down to a clear presentation through his practical experience as a writer and teacher of voice. Mr. Cooke has also written special chapters dealing with the practical side of bringing the singer before the public. Twenty-five of the most famous singers of modern times are represented in this book through individual chapters devoted to the advice of each singer.

The advance of publication price is $1.00.

As editor of this publication, several articles either mention him or were written by him. It also includes sheet music he wrote, "Send Me A Rose From Homeland," and entries on music by many other authors. -- Link to full Google Books:[View]